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Free enterprise will not fix health care

State Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, thinks the free enterprise system is the answer to health care costs (Herald, Nov. 25.) I’ve got news for him. The free enterprise system doesn’t work in the health care system. The law of supply and demand breaks down. What’s the demand for medical care when you may die without medical attention? The supply is also controlled by drug companies that own the patent rights to drugs.

So when you are in the hospital you pay what they say you pay.

Prescription drugs are much more expensive in the U.S. when compared to other countries.

If you need a medical procedure, you can’t call hospitals asking “how much do you charge to have tonsils removed?” They won’t tell you. You can’t comparison shop and you can’t negotiate the price the way you can with other expensive purchases such as a car or house.

If you crash your car, don’t tell the ambulance driver, “You know I think I can get a better rate at Animas Surgical Hospital,” because he won’t take you there.

These high medical costs are the reason for high insurance rates.

Medical debt is the No. 1 reason for personal bankruptcy in the U.S.

There may be problems with Obamacare, but to let capitalism run wild in the health care industry is a mistake. There are some services such as police protection, fire fighting and health care that everyone should be entitled to, regardless of their income.

Dave Norman

Durango



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